Sophie Cunningham Defies Criticism, Calls Out Media on Trans Comments

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WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham has fired back at critics who called for her trade, responding with a blunt two-word retort on her podcast: “Suck it.” The unrestricted free agent, who averaged fewer than eight points per game off the bench for the Indiana Fever, took to her No Hesitation podcast to address an Athletic column by Candace Buckner, which argued she was not worth the “circus” she brought to the franchise.

Defying Media Criticism

Cunningham dismissed the column as a pursuit of relevance, claiming her critics were chasing attention rather than basketball. “That’s why I literally don’t even care what anyone says about me anymore,” she said. “If you’re going to live by the praise, you’re going to die by the hate. The majority of these people have never picked up a ball in their entire lives, and they’re just, like, thirsty to have attention or be relevant in some type of way.”

Cunningham emphasized her value to the team, noting her role as the WNBA’s fourth-leading bench scorer and her top-five field goal percentage as a three-point shooter. Her podcast partner, trainer Drew Hanlen, called the column an “absolute hate piece.”

Controversy Over Trans Comments

The feud has intensified since Cunningham’s July comments to ESPN, where she expressed concerns about protecting “young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” Former Fever teammate Sydney Colson criticized her on her Unsupervised podcast, calling her “ashamed” for her remarks on transgender athletes and telling her to “shut the fuck up.”

Cunningham’s one-year, fully guaranteed $665,000 contract with the Fever expired after the 2026 season, and she has earned a total of $1.3 million over eight years with the Fever and Phoenix Mercury. Despite the criticism, she remains confident in her contributions to the team and her impact on the league.

Social Media Reaction

The exchange has sparked a divided response on social media, with some supporting Cunningham and others questioning her future with the team. While she has not named Buckner or the outlet, her strong response has clearly marked her stance against the media criticism.

Source: Breitbart

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claire.thomson